Saturday morning belongs to the little witches, superheroes and dinosaurs of Doylestown.

The Spooktacular Costume Contest and Parade returns on Saturday, Oct. 24, and it's one of the sweetest mornings on the town calendar.

Check-in starts at 9:30 a.m. on the front lawn of the Bucks County Administration Building at 55 E. Court St.

That's where the costumes gather, friends find each other, and parents put the last safety pins in place.

The awards ceremony for the costume contest begins at 10:30 a.m.

Then the whole crowd steps off, parading down Pine Street and onto East State Street.

If you're not in costume yourself, find a spot along the route and cheer them on.

It's a lot of fun to watch, even if your own trick-or-treating days are long behind you.

At 11:15 a.m., downtown trick-or-treating begins.

Look for stores and restaurants with orange and black balloons outside, the signal that they're handing out treats.

You can pick up a printed list of participating spots at check-in.

The event runs until 1:30 p.m.

Organizers strongly encourage registering in advance.

It isn't just paperwork, because it helps the downtown businesses know how much candy to have on hand.

Costume contest registration is open now through the organizer's online sign-up.

The parade is put on by Discover Doylestown, which is also looking for volunteers if you'd like to lend a hand.

A heads-up for everyone else: Saturday morning is busy downtown.

The farmers market runs on South Hamilton Street from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the Witches Ride sets off from Broad Commons Park at 9:30 a.m.

Expect crowds and tighter parking than usual, and give yourself extra time.

Better yet, walk in if you can.

It's the kind of morning that reminds you why a small town feels like a small town.

Grab a coffee, bring the kids or grandkids, and enjoy the show.